Lift trucks are mobile equipment which use 2 prongs or forks to be able to place loads into positions which would usually be hard to reach. Typically, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most commonly, industrial forklifts are used around train loading docks and truck loading docks along with in warehouse operations. These machines have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Usually, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are several smaller industrial lift truck units that use an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are engineered to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the great choice for military and construction applications. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have large pneumatic tires that are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models can have a telescoping boom, that could carry cargo up and out from the machine's base or they may use a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
In 1946, the rough terrain forklift emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was used around construction sites and can raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity could carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during 1962. This specific unit enabled cargo to be placed out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.